Chapter Fifteen Maksim #2
After pulling into the driveway, I nodded at the driver before exiting the SUV. When I entered the back door, the sound of hysterical laughter floated back to me. Furrowing my brows, I hurried through the kitchen and down the long hallway to the living room.
I froze at the sight of Sarah and Lev laughing hysterically at a calico cat manically chasing a feathered wand. They both lounged on the floor by the couch. My blood boiled at how he was pressed against her.
Sensing my presence, Lev snapped his gaze to mine. Immediately, he dropped the wand and jumped away from Sarah. “I didn’t know you were on the way.”
“Obviously.”
At least the bastard had the presence of mind to blush. After glancing at Sarah, he cocked his brows. “Eto sdelano?”
He was asking if it was done. It seemed like such a simple question for something that was far from it. “Eto,” I replied.
As Sarah’s curious gaze bounced between the two of us, I said, “Mila vystrelila yemu pryamo mezhdu glaz.”
Lev slowly shook his head in disbelief at the words about Mila shooting Father between the eyes. “Jesus,” he muttered.
“I know.”
Concern flooded his face. “S ney vse v poryadke?”
“Fine.”
“Mogu ya podoyti k ney?”
I wasn’t surprised he wanted to check on Mila. She’d helped to raise him after Irina’s murder.
Nodding, I then told him that after Kellan had asked for a neutral place to meet Mila, they were at the gallery she managed. With a grin, I added that he should probably call before showing up since they were probably fucking after their reunion.
With a grimace, he muttered, “Fucking hell.”
“I agree.”
Lev turned to Sarah and threw up his hand. “Bye, Sarah.”
“Bye. Thanks for your help today.”
“You’re welcome.”
He then rubbed the cat on its head before heading out of the room. Now that we were alone, silence hung heavy in the air.
“I’m sorry I interrupted the fun.”
“Lev was kind enough to keep me company.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Yes, he was.”
Sarah tilted her head at me. “Why do you sound angry that your brother showed me kindness?”
“I’m not.”
“Are you sure?”
Sighing, I ran a hand over my face. “If anything, I’m jealous.”
Her brows shot high on her forehead. “Jealous?”
With a nod, I replied, “Of the way you t-two are g-getting along.”
“Oh,” she murmured.
At the feel of something at my feet, I jerked my gaze from hers to see the cat rubbing against me. Glancing up at me, it meowed loudly.
“No, Voxie!” Sarah cried before scooping the cat up and backing away from me.
Scowling at her, I challenged, “While I might be an accomplice to kidnapping, I don’t hurt animals.”
“No, it’s not that. I didn’t want her to hurt you.”
“Me?”
Bobbing her head, she replied, “Lev told me about how you’re allergic to cats.”
Throwing up my hand, I replied, “For fuck’s sake. What d-did he not t-tell you this afternoon?”
Ignoring my remark, Sarah asked, “Should I take her out of the room?”
“No. I g-got an allergy shot t-this afternoon.”
“You did?”
“I needed to be p-prepared since it would be not only b-be in the house, but on your clothes.”
“She,” Sarah emphasized.
“Whatever.”
“So you can meet her?”
“Am I supposed t-to?”
Sarah laughed. “You might as well, since she’ll be here with me.” With a pointed look, she added, “However long that will be.”
Forever if I had it my way. “Fine.”
“Voxie, this is my kidnapper, Maksim.”
I snorted. “Kidnapping accomplice.”
“Semantics.”
As I reached out to pet Voxie’s fluffy head, I asked, “What kind of name is Voxie?”
“It’s a feminine take on Vox, which means voice.”
“Ah, a speech-related name.”
“Yeah, I couldn’t help myself,” Sarah replied with a shy smile.
Voxie purred like a motorboat as I scratched her ears. “She really likes you,” Sarah remarked.
“You say t-that like it shocks you.”
She laughed. “I mean, she never meets a stranger, but the fact that she's purring so loudly for you is different.”
“She’s a g-good judge of character.”
“I wouldn’t exactly say that,” Sarah replied with a smile.
“T-Then I’ll say it for you.”
The ringing of my phone interrupted us. At the sight of Dima’s name flashing across the screen, I frowned. “Da?”
“Since all the Kavanaugh brothers came to town with Kellan to rescue Mila, I want to sit down with them and the Nerettis.”
The Nerettis were a powerful Italian family from New York.
Their control had grown into Boston with the marriage of Caterina Neretti to Callum Kavanaugh–Kellan’s oldest brother.
Now they held a stronghold in Philly through the marriage of their second son, Leandro, to the daughter of the Caruso's capo.
Through Mila’s relationship with Kellan, we would gain allies in both New York and Boston as well as strengthen our ties in Philly.
Glancing at Sarah, I asked. “T-Tonight?”
“Yeah, we’re going to have an early dinner at the Caruso’s.”
“You d-do remember I have company.”
“You’re the fucking co-pahkan, Maksim.”
“I am aware.”
“And even if you weren’t, I’d need you there for me as a buffer considering my previous bad blood with the Kavanaughs.”
“T-That you b-brought on yourself,” I mused.
With a growl, Dima said, “Get a bodyguard to fucking babysit her, and get your ass here.”
“Fine,” I grumbled.
When I hung up, Sarah stared expectantly at me. “Is everything okay?”
“Unfortunately, I have a b-business matter I have t-to take care of.”
Eyeing me curiously, Sarah said, “If you’re worried about me trying to run away, I won’t.”
“I know you won’t.”
“Because I need the money?”
“No. It’s more you fear me.”
To my surprise, she snorted contemptuously. “Trust me, I don’t.”
Fuck me. Her fire would be the death of me. It drew me to close the gap between us. “Most women in your shoes would b-be scared out of t-their fucking minds after being kidnapped and held captive b-by a b-band of nefarious strangers.”
With a jerk of her chin, Sarah protested, “I’m not most women.”
Smiling, I replied, “Oh, I know. T-That’s why I wanted you t-to treat me.”
“I won’t lie that I wasn’t scared at first. Like I was really fucking scared.”
“What changed your mind?”
“You and your men showed me who you really are.”
That’s only b-because you d-don’t know me.”
Drawing her shoulders back, Sarah challenged, “I’m not naive, Maksim. I know you’re involved in some shady shit. From the tattoos on you and your men and the fact you’re Russian, I’d wager you’re Russian mafia.”
Well fuck me. Sarah was a hell of a lot smarter than even I’d previously imagined. We’d barely spent twelve hours together, and she’d already unearthed my secret.
I should’ve told her she was wrong. That she’d let her imagination run away with her. That I was just your average businessman who just happened to be of Russian descent.
But I respected her too much for that.
Nodding, I replied, “You’re right. I’m B-Bratva.”
Snapping her finger, she cried, “That’s it! Bratva. For the life of me, I couldn’t think of that word earlier.”
“Now you know the t–truth, you’re still not scared?”
“Should I be?”
“Of me? Never. Of my b-brothers and associates? Never. Of my enemies? Yes.”
Sarah’s resolve faded slightly. But then she said, “As my mom always says, ‘Worrying about tomorrow won’t help today’.”
I smiled. “She sounds like a wise woman.”
“She is,” Sarah replied with a somewhat haunted look.
“Can we start t-treatment in the morning?”
“Yes, I think that would be good.”
With a nod, “One of my b-bodyguards will remain in the house with you.” When she opened her mouth to protest, I said, “For your safety, not your imprisonment.”
“Fine.”
“If you need me, just ask, and he will g-get me on the p–phone. Order whatever you want from t-the cook, and you’re free t-to explore the house.”
“I’ll be fine, Maksim. You need to go.”
“It might b-be late when I g-get back, so I’ll see you in t-the morning.”
After she gave me a little wave, I reluctantly left her for the second time that day.